Open AccessTWO HAEMATOPHAGOUS SPECIES OF CLERADA (HETEROPTERA: LYGAEIDAE) INHABITING THE NEST OF THE RINGTAIL POSSUM ( PSEUDOCHEIRUS PEREGRINUS )
Author(s) -
WiltonSmith P. D.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
australian journal of entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1440-6055
pISSN - 1326-6756
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1978.tb01736.x
Subject(s) - lygaeidae , heteroptera , biology , zoology , nest (protein structural motif) , instar , peregrinus , ecology , biochemistry , larva
Two species of Clerada (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) found inhabiting the nests of ringtail possums ( Pseudocheirus peregrinus Boddaert) were shown to be haematophagous. Under laboratory conditions all instars of each species fed freely on man, mice and chickens but not on sunflower seeds. When starved, they would feed on other insects and even become cannibalistic. There are marked differences in generation time, ability to withstand starvation, and egg structure, between the two species.